Overlapping wire engaging device



y 9, 1949- F. F. MELVIN ET AL 2,476,427

OVERLAPPING WIRE ENGAGING DEVICE Filed July 15, 1946 Ilvl/s/vroles, I E/mom FMELI/IN mvn L/OE Q STEVENQ; ./e [4 1 EYWQMLQ Patented July 19, 1949 OVERLAPPING WIRE ENGAGING DEVI E Francis F. Melvin and Joe O. Stevens, Elwood, Ind; said'StevenS assignor to said 'Melvin ApplicationJuly 15, 19416, fs'e'rialNo. 683,618

This invention relates to-means formaintaining a garment stretch-ing'device in extended or retracted positions at which the device may be selectively shifted. The primary object of the invention is to provide retention means which may be operated readily by grippingtwo members such as betweenthethumb and index finger to release the retention means and have these memberssimult'a'neously aiiordmeans for shifting apart one member from another to produce the extended condition of the shaping device. in the formof the invention herein shownythe invention is applied to a stretching frame such-as would be 'used for shaping slacks and the like while drying.

The above indicated object and many others will become ap arent to those versed in the --art in the following description-of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of arcrmin frame to which-the invention is applied;

Fig. "2, a detail in'top-plan view-of the securing means Fig. 3,'a view in-is'ectiojn on a line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a detail in "plan view of the securing means from the opposite side of that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5,.a view in. section -.onaa line :5='-.5 in 4;

Fig. 6, a detail in transversesection on .a 6-45 in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7, a 'det'ailih top plan viewer a wire end guide structure; and

Fig. 8, :a transverse section theline le-B in Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

While the invention may applied-to 'awide range of devices wherein there are members one extensible from the other, the invention is illustrated herein is applied to a simple stretching or forming frame wherein there are two wire members l and II having respectively a top leg I2 turned over the leg I3 and a lower leg I4 turned over the leg I5. The legs are so positioned as to be in parallel alignment respectively and substantially in sliding contact one with the other, the legs I2 and I5 being above respectively the legs I3 and I4. On each outer end of the legs I2 and I4 is a flattened curved end portion I6 provided with a hole 21 through which the other adjacent leg may freely slide. Thus the two wires II] and Il may be adjustably shifted one toward the other to an inner limiting position as deter- 2 and they also may becarried outwardly one from the other to extended positions.

A generally V-shape spring I1 is slotted as at I8 and 19 to receive through those slotted portions both legs I2 and I3. Each slot is sulficiently long to permit thepinching one toward the other of the downturned ends 2|] and 2I of the spring members 1 1 toward vertical positions to assume some suchposition as indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 3,-in-which position the legs I2 and I3 maybe-freely shifted one over the other. The transverse widths of the slots 18 and I9 are "limited-to substantially thediameters of the legs '12 and "I3 (both the same) plus a-slight clearance for a sliding fit. The lengths of the slot exceed the combined diameters of --'the legs I2 and I3 whereby'relea'sing-thelegs 20 and 2| to the full line spread apart-positions will cause the top and bottom edges o'fthe slots IB and I9 to grip opposite sides of the legs "I2 and I3 -in--planes diagonally positioned in referenceto the axes of the legs '12 and I'3,-all in amanner very-efiectively gripping those legs and holding them against longitudinal travel-one in respect to the other. Therefore, when thetwo legs 20 and 2| are gripped such asbe'tween one' sthumband'index finger to release --the'leg's M an-d, the leg I3 may be shifted along theleg l2 whilethe=-spring l l isso gripped, and simplerelease oi-the legs '20-an'd 2| willcause the spring H to retain the legs in the positionsat the time of release.

To facilitate the "shifting of the wire legs I2 and I3.- enealong-the othergone of the legs, herein shown asthe l'e'g I3, is provided with spaced abutments 28 and 29 between the spring legs 20 and-2i, whereby the spring legs 20 and 2| when pinched one toward the other may strike either abutment as --the directionoi movement may be to carry the wire I3 along therewith as the spring I! may be shifted along the wire leg I2. In other words, the spring legs 20 and 2| serve as means to move the wire leg I3. In the present showing, these abutments 28 and 29 constitute shoulders at the ends of a wire length 30 olfset from the axis of the wire leg I3, Fig. 4. These abutments are preferably near the end portion of the wire leg I3.

In the same manner a second spring 23 is provided to interengage the lower legs [4 and I5, the spring 23 being inverted in position as compared to the spring I1 so as to provide its legs 24 and 25 in upwardly extending directions. In all other respects, it is an exact duplicate of and operates in the same manner as that described mined by the lengths of the upper and lower legs, in reference to the upper spring I1, and the leg I5 1. In an adjustable frame having a pair of wirelike members, one longitudinally slidable along theother, a member interengaging device comprising a generally V-shaped leaf spring having a slot in each leg thereof, both of said members being inserted through both of said slots, each of said slots being shaped and sized to cause opposed marginal end-edges of the slots to be normally urged by the spring against opposing sides of said members when said legs are in posi; tions oppositely oblique from lines normal to said members; each of said legs having sufiicient' lengths beyond said slots and being so spaced apart in their member engaging positions to afford finger operated grips; and an abutment on one of said members between said legs whereby pinching of one of said legs toward the other and attempting to push thereby said spring along said members will shift the abutment carrying -member longitudinally of the other and the re- .lease of said legs will secure both members fixed one in respect to the other against further shift- ,ing.

2. In an adjustable frame having a pair of wire-like members longitudinally slidable one along the other, an integral end portion of one member being provided with an eye through which the second member is slidingly guided; a leaf spring generally V-shaped to have normally divergin legs; each of said legs being provided with an elongated slot therethrough, the length of which slot exceeds the combined thicknesses of said members; both of said members being inserted through both of said slots; and an abut- -ment on said second member straddled by said spring legs; said legs normally gripping said members by edges of said slots to hold the members against longitudinal travel one along the other; whereby pinching said legs one toward the other ,releasessaid gripping and shifting of the spring along said one member will carry therealong said second member by reason of the presence of said abutment.

3. In an adjustable frame having a pair of wire-like members longitudinally slidable one along the other, an integral end portion of one member being provided with an eye through which the second member is slidingly guided; a leaf spring generally V-shaped to have normally diverging legs; each of said legs being provided with an elongated slot therethrough, the length of which slot exceeds the combined thicknesses of said members; both of said members being inserted through both of said slots; and an abutment on said second member straddled by said spring legs; said legs normally gripping said members by edges of said slots to hold the members against longitudinal travel one along the other; whereby pinching said legs one toward the other releases said gripping and shifting of the spring. along said one member Will carry therealong said second member by reason of the presence of said abutment; said member integral end portion consisting of a flattened pierced end bent substantially normal to the axis of that member to extend laterally therefrom.

4. In an adjustable frame having a pair of wire-like members longitudinally slidable one along the other, an integral end portion of one member being provided with an eye through which the second member is slidingly guided; a leaf spring generally V-shaped to have normally diverging legs; each of said legs being provided with an elongated slot therethrough, the length of which slot exceeds the combined thicknesses of said members; both of said members being inserted through both of said slots; and an abutment on said second member straddled by said spring legs; said legs normally gripping said members by edges of said slots to hold the members against longitudinal travel one along the other; whereby pinchin said legs one toward the other releases said gripping and shifting of the spring along said one member will carry therealong said second member by reason of the presence of said abutment; said abutment consisting of a bend in the second member having a length limiting the travel of said spring legs toward each other to substantially that travel required for giving a full release of said gripping.

FRANCIS F. MELVIN. JOE O. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,161,451 Bolek et al June 6, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 109,796 Australia June 6, 1939 

